On Monday, October 9th, 2017, the University of Silesia will inaugurate the academic year for the 50th time. The ceremony will begin at 11:00 in the concert hall of the National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra in Katowice (Wojciech Kilar 1 Square).

From 1st to 28th August 2017 the 27th summer school of Polish language, literature and culture will take place in Cieszyn. The event is organized by the School of Polish Language and Culture of the University of Silesia. The aim of the summer school is to improve the Polish language skills of the students in accordance to their individual needs and interests. Thanks to numerous classes and activities the participants of the summer school will have an opportunity to verify and improve their knowledge of language through practice.

The University of Silesia in Katowice recently signed the cooperation agreement with National Dong Hua University (NDHU) in Hualien, Taiwan. In the frame of the agreement students and academic staff of both universities will have the chance to participate in joint exchange and research programs.

Knowing how hard is to determine the field of studies while being a candidate, the University of Silesia has prepared the U-kierunkuj się (“Find Your Path”) application. Being a multimedia quiz, U-kierunkuj się proposes candidates the programmes of studies chosen on the basis of their preferences.

On Friday, 12th May 2017, in the Rectorate of the University of Silesia an agreement was signed between the University, Academic Sports Association US and e-Sports Association in Katowice. As a part of the agreement, the University will contribute to creating learning programmes of multimedia-oriented high school classes.

The University of Silesia will enter into cooperation with the University of Calcutta. The bilateral agreement between the Universities will be signed on 10th May 2017 during IX European Economic Congress, which will take place in the International Conference Center in Katowice on 10th – 12th May.

On Thursday 11th the University of Silesia will host the delegarion of Liaoning Province of People’s Republic of China. The Province will be represented by Zhao Guohong – Vice-Governor of Liaoning Province, Chang Hai – Director of the Committee for Foreign Affairs, Liaoning People’s Congress, Wang Xiaojiang – Executive Vice-Director of Liaoning Tourist Bureau, Ms.

The representatives of the University of Silesia will take part in the “International Joint Conference of Polish and Chinese Technical Universities, Establishment of the Joint Research Center of the New Silk Route in Poznan”. The conference will be hosted by Poznan University of Technology on 26 and 27 April 2017, and will cover the topics of the academic cooperation between Polish and Chinese universities.

Barbara Kożusznik, a Proffessor of the University of Silesia in Katowice, as well as the Head of the Chair of the Work Psychology in the Institute of Psychology, became the Research Board member of IDOCAL Instutite (Institute for Research in Psychology of Human Resources, Organizational Development and Work Quality of Life), a research unit of the University of Valencia.

The aim of the IDOCAL institute is to promote the results of psychological research in social life, especially in work organization and quality of work life.

Dr hab. Joanna Warmuzińska-Rogóż – vice-director of the Institute of Roman Languages and Translation studies, translation and literaturę specialist – was honoured with Pierre Savard Award in the category of the best Canadian Studies book written in foreign language. Pierre Savard Award is an annual prize of the International Council for Canadian Studies (ICCS/CIEC) given to authors of scientific monographs, which significantly contribute to the promotion of Canada.

On March 14-17, 2017 the visit of the representatives of Polish administration institutions and academic environment will head to the Nevada state in the United States of America. The visit is organized as a part of the Poland Business and Education Week organized by Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs in cooperation with Marshal's Office of Silesian Voivodeship, Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Katowice, Governor’s Office and Polish-American Chamber of Commerce of Nevada.

The representatives of the International Admissions Office are participating in the Education and Career fairs in Minsk, Belarus, which is held from, 16th February to 18th February 2017. The aim of the fairs is to promote the educational offer of foreign higher education institutions, as well as current teaching technologies, to the youth and potential candidates in Belarus.

On 6 February 2017 the meeting of Silesian Universities Network took place in the Rectorate of the University of Silesia. The meeting summarized the activities of the network in the years 2014-2016, the period in which Prof. Mirosław Nakonieczny served as the network’s President.

The University of Silesia reached the first place among the comprehensive universities in Poland in terms of both number of patent applications and of granted patents in the year 2016.

The University of Silesia also placed 11th among 20 most innovative higher education institutions in Poland and 14th, together with the University of Warmia and Mazury, in number of patent applications.

During the winter examination session Scientific Information Centre and Academic Library extends the working hours. To help the students in preparing for exams, they are free to use the resources of the library and get the support of its employees.

The newest issue of Postscriptum Polonistyczne magazine is now released and available for download. This issue features the lectures presented by some of the most notable Polish scholars during the VI World Congress of Polonists.

The conference organized by Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education will take place on 26th of January 2017 in the International Conference Centre (Miedzynarodowe Centrum Kongresowe) and on 27th January on the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Silesia in Katowice.

According to theorganization ofthe academic year2016/2017, between 23rd December 2016 and 6th January 2017 there are winter holidays at the University of Silesia. In this period classes are revoked. Due to holiday plans, also the work of the administration will be narrowed.